Golf green ball location marker

ABSTRACT

A golf green ball location marker ( 10 ) which includes an elongated cylindrical container ( 12 ) having an exterior surface ( 30 ) including instructional indicia ( 32 ) for use of the marker ( 10 ). The exterior surface ( 30 ) of the marker container ( 12 ) includes at least one golf symbol ( 40 ), shown as a golf cup flag ( 42 ) and two golf balls ( 46 ). The exterior surface ( 30 ) is of a green color that matches the golf green ( 28 ) with which the marker is used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a marker for marking the position of a golf ball on a golf green during the game of golf.

2. Background Art

Golf is an outdoor game played on a course usually having 9 or 18 holes. Each hole includes a tee which is a marked area designated for the first shot of the hole, a fairway and a putting green. Individual players or teams use a golf club to hit a ball from the tee into a cup located on the putting green. The ball is hit using various types of golf clubs depending on the location of the ball and the distance between the ball and the cup. There are three main types of golf clubs: woods (also known as “metals”), irons, and putters. Woods are generally used to hit the ball a long distance hit either from the tee or the fairway. Irons are typically used for hitting from fairways and “roughs” which are tall grass or wooded areas on the sides of the fairways. Putters are mostly used for hitting the ball on the putting green in a rolling manner.

The object of the game of golf is holing the ball in the cup in the least number of strokes possible. A hole of golf consists of hitting a ball from a tee toward the cup and continuing to hit the ball until it drops into the cup on the putting green. The cup typically has a flag on a stick called a golf cup flag or “the pin.” The pin is positioned in the cup so that the location of the cup may be seen from a distance. Often the ball lies on the putting green before the ball is hit into the cup. When on the green, it is often necessary for the ball to be picked up such as for cleaning prior to putting. Also, the ball may be removed from its resting place on the putting green if the ball is in the path of another golfer's putt. Such removing of the ball is done out of courtesy and fair play to prevent interference and/or contact with another golfer or golf ball. When the ball is picked up from the putting green, the ball's position must then be marked using a ball marker. Marking the location or the spot where the ball comes to rest allows the golfer to accurately return the ball to the marked location when it is the golfer's turn to putt. Such markers are typically coin-sized objects such as a plastic disc, although coins are also sometimes used. However, a coin-sized marker has a number of disadvantages, since the coin-sized marker can change the path of a ball rolling over the marker. Other marking devices have been known to dispense a powder to mark the location of a golf ball. Such golf ball markers have previously included names and/or logos of businesses, clubs, and organizations for use as an advertisement and/or promotional device.

Prior art patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,752 (Bagg); 6,692,373 (Hultquist); and 6,699,144 (Kevitek); and U.S. Published Patent Application Nos. 2003/0148832 and 2004/0092340. In addition, U.S. Design Pat. No. 306,874 discloses an ornamental design for a golf ball marker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf ball location marker for marking the position of a golf ball on a golf green.

In carrying out the above object, the golf green ball location marker of the invention includes an elongated cylindrical container of a round shape having a first enclosed end and a second end defining a round opening. The cylindrical container has an inner surface defining a cavity. Within the cavity, both a closure and a spring are received. The spring biases the closure to close the opening but permits opening movement of the closure for dispensing of golf ball location marking powder on a golf green when the closure is pressed against the golf green. The cylindrical container has an exterior surface including instructional indicia for use of the marker.

In the preferred construction of the golf green ball location marker, the marker includes marking powder that may be chalk, flour, sand, talcum, ground particulate or combinations thereof. The exterior surface of the cylindrical container is of a green color to match golf greens with which the marker is used. The closure is disclosed as being spherical. Furthermore, the exterior surface also has indicia including a golf symbol, which may be a golf cup flag, at least one golf ball, or most preferably a golf cup flag and two golf balls.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a golf green ball location marker constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the marker.

FIG. 3 is a end view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 to illustrate a first enclosed end of the marker.

FIG. 4 is a end view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 to show a second end defining a round opening and a closure.

FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating operation of the golf green ball location marker on a golf green.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a mark left on the golf green by the marker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a golf green ball location marker 10 constructed in accordance with the invention includes an elongated cylindrical container 12 of a round shape having a first enclosed end 14 and a second end 16 defining a round opening 18. The cylindrical container 12 has an inner surface 20 defining a cavity 22. Within the cavity 22, both a closure 24 and a spring 26 are received. The spring 26 biases the closure 24 to close the opening 18 but permits opening movement of the closure 24 for dispensing of golf ball location marking powder on a golf green 28 (FIGS. 5 and 6) when the closure 24 is pressed against the golf green 28 (FIG. 5). The cylindrical container 12 has an exterior surface 30 including instructional indicia 32 for use of the marker 10.

The marker 10 may include marking powder 34 that may be chalk, flour, sand, talcum, ground particulate or combinations thereof. The exterior surface 30 of the cylindrical container 12 may be of a green color or hue to match golf greens with which the marker 10 is used. The closure 24 of the golf green ball location marker 10 is preferably spherical so as to be a ball closure. The exterior surface 30 of the golf green ball location marker 10 may also include indicia including a golf symbol 40. The golf symbol 40 may include a golf cup flag 42 or at least one golf ball 44. As shown, the golf symbol 40 includes a golf cup flag 42 and two golf balls 46.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first enclosed end 14 has a cylindrical disk 48 having an inner disk surface 50 and an outer disk surface 52. The cylindrical disk 48 engages the inner surface 20 of the cylindrical container 12 at interface surface 54 and is secured in any suitable manner such as by an adhesive, heat bonding, etc.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 24, the spring 26 is preferably of a generally helical shape having a first spring end 56, a second spring end 58, and a plurality of coils 60 located between the first spring end 56 and the second spring end 58. The first spring end 56 contacts the inner disk surface 50 at the first enclosed end 14 of the cylindrical container 12. The second spring end 58 contacts the ball closure 24 at the second end 16 of the cylindrical container 12.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 24, the cylindrical container 12 has an inner tapered portion 62 and an outer tapered portion 64 having a pointed junction that defines the round opening 18 whose diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball closure 24. This maintains the ball closure 24 within the cylindrical container 12. The inner tapered portion 62 prevents the ball closure 24 from completely escaping the marker 10, while the outer tapered portion 64 joins the exterior surface 30 and the inner tapered portion 62.

FIG. 5 illustrates operation of the marker 10 where the cylindrical container 12 is inverted in a generally upright direction perpendicular to the golf green 28. More specifically, the ball closure 24 of the marker 10 is pressed against the golf green 28 to compress the spring 26 and permit dispensing of marking powder 34 around the ball closure 24 through the opening 18 and onto the golf green. The marking powder 34 moves through the opening 18 in response to a gravitational force. After the marking powder 34 exits the opening 18 and the marker 10 is moved away from the golf green 28, the marking powder forms a mark 66 (FIG. 6) on the golf green 28.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mark 66 of marking powder 34 (FIG. 5). dispensed on the golf green 28 by the marker 10 (FIG. 5). The mark 66 is generally in the shape of a “dot” so that it “marks the spot” on the golf green 28 as stated by the instructional indicia 32 in written form as shown.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is not intended that this embodiment illustrates and describes all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A golf green ball location marker, comprising; an elongated cylindrical container of a round shape having a first enclosed end and a second end defining a round opening; the cylindrical container having an inner surface defining a cavity; a closure received within the cavity; a spring within the cavity for biasing the closure to close the opening but permitting movement of the closure for dispensing of golf ball location marking powder on a golf green when the closure is pressed against the golf green; and the cylindrical container having an exterior surface including instructional indicia for use of the marker.
 2. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 1 wherein the marker includes marking powder selected from the group consisting of chalk, flour, sand, talcum, ground particulate and combinations thereof.
 3. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the cylindrical container is of a green color to match golf greens with which the marker is used.
 4. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 1 wherein the closure has a spherical shape.
 5. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 1 wherein the exterior surface includes indicia including a golf symbol.
 6. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 5 wherein the golf symbol is a golf cup flag.
 7. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 5 wherein the golf symbol is at least one golf ball.
 8. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 5 wherein the golf symbol is a golf cup flag and two golf balls.
 9. A golf green ball location marker as in claim 5 wherein the instructional indicia is written indicia.
 10. A golf green ball location marker, comprising; an elongated cylindrical container of a round shape having a first enclosed end and a second end defining a round opening; the cylindrical container having an inner surface defining a cavity; a ball closure received within the cavity; a spring that biases the ball closure to close the opening; golf ball location marking powder received within the cavity and selected from the group consisting of chalk, flour, sand, talcum, ground particulate and combinations thereof, the spring deflecting to permit movement of the ball closure for dispensing of ball location marking powder on a golf green when the ball closure is press against the golf green; the cylindrical container also having an exterior surface including written instructional indicia for use of the marker, and the exterior surface being of a green color to match golf greens with which the marker is used; and the exterior surface includes indicia including a golf symbol selected from the group consisting of a golf cup flag, at least one golf ball, and a golf cup flag and two golf balls. 